A new View on the structural pattern of the Metohiya basin and its margin: A preliminary note

Abstract

The region of the Metohiyan depression and its complex geological margin is a morphotectonic entity formed over the complicated structures of the basement. The first glance of the orographic-geological map or satellite image shows the hexagonal shape of the depression, in clear contrast to the linear structure of the Vardar Zone. Sedimentation of Neogene deposits began in a trough, the "main shape of which was finished" and the depression itself had been formed and modified over a long period of time. This is indicated by the slight deformations of the Miocene deposits, somewhat stronger along the rim of the basin, and the relatively great thickness of the Neogene in general, uniformity in lithological composition and other characters of deposits. This region in the south of Serbia was much explored during the last (20th) century, in the latter half in particular, when abundant and interesting information was collected on the geology, structural pattern and mineral resources. Some of the newly collected information has been published and threw new light on the geology of the Metohiyan depression and its margin. Other data, also important, have remained unpublished in numerous documentation funds. Gaps in the geological knowledge of the Metohiyan depression and its margin, viewed through reference data, account for the missing links of many facts and fragmentation. Also, for some reason, a more comprehensive and reliable idea of the geological relationships or evolution is difficult to conceive. This work will present the idea of the Metohiya Basin as a ring structure like one resulting from a meteorite impact. In view of its form (morphology) and some indirect indications, there are few conclusive indications that it is an impact structure of about 50 km in diameter. Why? "Sometimes one should know what to look for to be able to see it". From this standpoint, so far actual facts of a certainly strong impact have neither been viewed nor their evidence searched for from any aspect (atomic-molecular, mineralogical, crystallographic, petrochemical, geoelectrical, structural, etc.). Structures in the marginal parts of the Metohiya Basin, which have different strike directions (NW-SE, NE-SW, ENE-WSW, E-W, N-S), may be well interpreted should it be accepted that they border an impact ring structure.